CM urged to scrap Lakhanpur toll

Our Correspondent

Kathua, November 20

The toll at Lakhanpur, the gateway of J&K, and the unabated illegal extraction of minerals from the Ravi canal predominantly came under discussion of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti with local deputations during a grievance camp in Kathua today. The camp was organised under the Chief Minister’s Public Outreach Programme.

“The continuation of toll at Lakhanpur after the introduction of GST in the state has defied the idea of ‘one nation, one tax’. It is like people being looted in broad daylight. The government should immediately take measures to abolish the tax,” Pankaj Dogra, organising secretary, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC), said during a meeting with the Chief Minister.

Dogra claimed the Chief Minister had assured that the demand would be given due consideration.

Many other deputations also vociferously raised the issue of unchecked illegal mining on the Ravi river and the Ravi canal, demanding immediate ban on it.

The Chief Minister directed the administration to enforce complete ban on the extraction of material from river basins and take action against drug-peddlers. She directed the Deputy Commissioner, Kathua, to launch an anti-encroachment drive on rivers, canals, water bodies and other public places.

Besides, the residents of border areas demanded the launch of a special recruitment drive for their youth and the compensation for damaged crops and land in use by Army and other security forces.

The major demands put forth by the deputations during the day-long public outreach programme included improvement in drinking water and irrigation facilities in the district, particularly in kandi areas, expediting the Panjtirthi multi-purpose project, drug de-addiction, check on industrial pollution, construction of flyovers and an auditorium and a solid waste management plant in the town.

They also demanded that the share of local people in the Ranjit Sagar Dam being released to them by the Punjab Government.

Major announcements

• Release of Rs 60 lakh for high school building at Lohai Malhar 
• Rs 50 lakh for GB hostel, Bani
• Rs 30 lakh for setting up a transformer bank in district
• Rs 20 lakh for Municipal Committee in Kathua